STATEHOUSE (Feb. 19, 2013) — A bill authored by State Sen. Pat Miller (R-Indianapolis) to encourage earlier detection of breast cancer for Hoosier women was approved 49-0 by the full Senate today.

Senate Bill 414 would require state employee health plans and other health insurance programs offered in Indiana to provide coverage for medical screening, tests and examinations needed by women who are over the age of 40 and have “high-density” breast tissue. The legislation also calls for Indiana’s Medical Licensing Board to establish an education program and standards for annual screenings for those same women.

Doctors say the more dense the tissue, the more difficult it is to detect tumors by mammogram. Ultrasounds and MRIs as a second-step medical screening can help with detection for women who have dense breast tissue.

“As medical technology advances, we are given additional opportunities to promote early detection and prevention of certain diseases and cancers,” Miller said. “That means it’s also more important than ever to ensure Hoosiers know about these screenings and have access to them. It’s estimated that nearly 40,000 U.S. women will die from breast cancer this year. The goal of this legislation is to make screening and prevention efforts more effective and, ultimately, to help save more lives.”

Susan G. Komen for the Cure estimates there will be 232,340 new cases of breast cancer among U.S. women in 2013. From 2005 to 2009, approximately 117 out of every 100,000 women in Indiana were diagnosed with breast cancer. Also during that time period in the Hoosier state, an estimated 24 out of every 100,000 women died from breast cancer.

SB 414 now moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration.